Jesus Himself did not baptize (see chap. 4), because He was presented as the Messiah to the Jews; and knowing that He was rejected, and that He must take His true character as Savior-God, He did not baptize for a thing that should pass away. His disciples baptized, but with the baptism of John. As a prophet, Jesus followed the same preaching as John. He preached that the kingdom was near. The Evangelist John has given us the ministry of Jesus, exercised in Jerusalem, while the others give us that which He fulfilled in Galilee.
Jesus leaves Judea because the Jews would not receive Him—His heart aggrieved at seeing their rejection of Him. He leaves, therefore, in pure righteousness, this place of religious pride, to betake Himself among the "poor of the flock," and passes through Samaria, where He presents Himself simply as the Savior of sinners. It is there He commences His public ministry, as we have said. Remark now, it is observed, that Sychar was near the possession of Jacob, which shows that the Samaritans were in the territory of Israel, though they had a false worship in opposition to that which was offered at Jerusalem. The Jews were right in keeping aloof from them, not wishing to mix with the Samaritans, because it was according to the mind of God to testify against the false worship, and in favor of the truth that God had committed to their trust. But Jesus could visit Samaria, because He was on the ground of grace toward all men indiscriminately.